Police say excessive speed caused crash with YMCA minivan

FARMINGTON, Maine — Police in Maine say excessive speed was the primary cause of last month’s fatal crash between a tractor-trailer truck and a van that was carrying young campers.

A truck loaded with sawdust crashed into the rear of a YMCA minivan in Farmington on Aug. 17, killing 12-year-old Tess Meisel of Westport, Conn. The van was owned by Camp Jewell YMCA in Colebrook, Conn., and was headed from Acadia National Park to a park in Vermont.

Farmington police said an accident reconstructionist has determined that the truck driver, 53-year-old Charles Willey of Dexter, was going at least 41 mph in a 30-mph zone on a sharp curve where the crash took place.

Police said once the accident report is completed, it’ll be submitted it to the district attorney’s office.